View full sizeLisa Dejong, The Plain DealerA flock of sheep -- and a single llama -- from Urban Shepherds run across the grass after being released onto a vacant lot along North Marginal Road next to the Quay 55 apartments on Friday.

Nature's lawnmowers started chomping on the grass in a vacant lot along North Marginal Road yesterday. No gas tanks to refill. No blades to keep sharp. The flock from Urban Shepherds will mow for food.

The urban grazing program is expected to run through grass- growing season, probably until October. The sheep – and one protective llama – will populate the large vacant lot, keeping the grass at a manageable height while enjoying some tasty greens.

And volunteers have stepped up to serve as shepherds in shifts. Many of the volunteers are students at nearby St. Martin De Porres High School. Some are neighbors. Some are downtown workers with a yen for country life.

"She wasn't even surprised," said Linell Brookins of Mentor, explaining his wife's reaction when he said he was volunteering to work as a shepherd. He'll fit it in to his days while working downtown as an apartment building maintenance director.

"I'm also one of those people who is going to have chickens in his back yard before long," he said. "I remember the sheep lady out in Willoughby. She had a flock of sheep off 91 and Route 20. We used to ride out there all the time and just watch the sheep. So this will be a joy."

Brendan Trewella does nonprofit work from his apartment at Quay 55, so he figures checking on the sheep as a volunteer will be simple. Also, he can see them from his apartment window.

"I can look out and count the sheep and hope not to fall asleep," he joked. "They don't have that many so I think I can make it."

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.